N.S. premier disappointed with Liberal promise on shipbuilding program

Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter at a press conference on Oct. 13, 2010 where he announced $163.5 over the next 25 years to build and maintain a Halifax convention centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter says he will write to Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff to express his disappointment over the federal party’s position on a massive national shipbuilding program.

Media reports say party officials in Quebec have promised that a Liberal government would push back a deadline requiring the Davie Shipyard to demonstrate solvency, one of the conditions for bid submissions under Ottawa’s shipbuilding strategy.

The Quebec yard is in competition with three other shipyards including the Irving-owned facility in Halifax to build combat and non-combat vessels under the $35-billion plan.

Dexter said Nova Scotia wants the procurement process to proceed as it was set out, free of political interference.

“I would hope the considered opinion of Mr. Ignatieff would be to support the fair and open procurement process that is currently underway,” Dexter said Tuesday. “And I hope that in considering his opinion he would understand the value of the existing rules.”

Dexter said the Liberal party’s promise to move the deadline to July 7 from May 18 was “unacceptable.”

Outside the house, provincial Liberal Leader Stephen MacNeil said the premier was playing politics and it’s his understanding that all deadlines have been pushed back to July 7 because of the federal election.

McNeil said his caucus was briefed last week by Irving and the date the company used was July 7.

“This is nothing more than politics,” said McNeil. “People are trying to interfere in the game.”

However, Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said that she was unaware of any date change including the May 18 solvency deadline.

Keith said the company simply wants to see a fair process proceed as promised.

“We would hope that all parties would undertake a fair, open and transparent merit-based process and that we stick to the timelines that have been established.”

Last week, all three of Nova Scotia’s political parties passed a resolution expressing support for the Irving bid.

The NDP government has also pledged to champion the company’s efforts to land the contracts, which Dexter has said could include financial support for the lobbying effort.